Obituary of Joseph C. “Smitty� Smith

Joseph C. Smith Age 83, of Gibbsboro, died peacefully in his home with his family on Wednesday, October 12, 2005. Born March 2, 1922, in Philadelphia, PA, Smitty embraced life with enthusiasm and drive. A young man with a passion for cars and mechanics, Smitty worked for the William G. Budd Company until 1942. As a vehicle operator and mechanic, he served his country during World War II in the in the 10th Air Force Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Corps in New Delhi & Karachi during the China-Burma-India campaign. Smitty had the extreme good fortune, as he liked to put it, to drive for Major General Clayton L Bissell and Major General Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell while stationed in India. After the war, Smitty married Rose Hope Vlaisavljevich, a childhood friend. From 1947 until 1981 Smitty worked for the U. S. Postal Service as a mail carrier. In 1954, the Smith family moved to Gibbsboro. With the initiation of city delivery, Smitty became one of Gibbsboros first mail carriers in 1959. Smitty loved his life in Gibbsboro. Smitty became Assistant Fire Chief for the Gibbsboro Fire House after years as a volunteer firefighter. He served as Gibbsboros Dog Registrar for several years as well. He was President of Gibbsboros Senior Citizens Club at St. Andrews Church for 13 years. He also remained a life-time member of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association participating in its many gatherings. Smitty spent his leisure and retirement flea-marketing, traveling in his RV, watching car races, going to auto shows, tinkering in his garage and being with his family. Surviving are his wife, Rose Hope (nee Vlaisavljevich); daughter, Jacqueline Mouat of Gainesville, Florida; daughter Pamela Smith-Warner and partner Lynn Spiro of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; son, Robert Francis Smith and wife Diane of Lafayette, Alabama; five grandchildren, Alex, Abby, Melissa, Robin, & Gail and four great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Madison, Christina and Aubrey. Funeral services will be private and under the direction of LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home, Atco, N.J. Interment to be at the Brigadier General Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, North Hanover Township, New Jersey. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of the Moorestown Visiting Nurses, 10 East Stow Road, Marlton, New Jersey, 08053.